Back in November, 2011, we have reported that the Internet Explorer web browser has fallen below the 50% market share mark.

Now, it looks like the software giant has something to celebrate as according to the latest numbers, it’s back at 50%, up from 49.82% (0.18 point increase).
As far as other browsers go, Firefox continues it’s free fall as its market share has decreased by 0.35 point, down from 19.00% 18.65%.

Despite some hiccups in previous months, Google Chrome marches forward as it’s now responsible for the 17.41% market share, up from 17.17% (0.24 point increase).

Just like Google Chrome, Safari also lost some users in previous months. However, it has since recovered and increased its market share by 0.12 point, up from 9.09% to 9.17%.

After a sharp drop last month, Opera has managed to recover some of its lost share, up from 1.51% to 1.53% (0.02 point increase).

What do you think folks, is it a dead cat’s bounce or Internet Explorer share has changed its direction?

Vygantas is a former web designer whose projects are used by companies such as AMD, NVIDIA and departed Westood Studios. Being passionate about software, Vygantas began his journalism career back in 2007 when he founded FavBrowser.com. Having said that, he is also an adrenaline junkie who enjoys good books, fitness activities and Forex trading.

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http://twitter.com/bricky149 Shane Bundy

It had to be EXACTLY 50% – Let the accuracy wars begin!

http://twitter.com/cristianer304 Cristian

This war is good. We have better browsers every version.

Armin

I would rather see Firefox, Chrome, and Opera further increase their market share at the expense of Safari and IE. Too bad that that is not the case.

Asknobody

Mummy Returns

Geek

So which event will be first: Chrome will overtake IE or Firefox will draw level with Opera?

bal917

Chrome will suck, IE will lose market share, and Firefox will redeem themselves.

geist

You’re essentially reporting noise.

I’m still NoBody

I’d rather see all the other browsers hand over 1% each to Opera… :-)

Socorrosocorra

I’ts a little different in StatCounter.

Dante

StatCounter use stupid methodology without weights. StatCounter statistic is not global statistic.

http://themousepotatowebsite.co.za/ Larry Botha

The same can be said about Net Applications in defense of Statcounter. Do you know for a fact that Net Applications’ weighting of certain data is not having a drastic skewing effect on the data?

Statcounter validate their methodology, and explain it in contrast to Net Applications.

Additionally, Statcounter has a far greater sample of sites to draw data from. This is significant in increasing statistical relevancy.

The two methodologies are not ‘stupid’ or ‘clever’, they are simply different. Vanilla ice cream is no more ‘stupid’ than chocolate ice cream is.

Both methodologies will have their flaws, as is to be expected with statistics – there is no ideal world in which to draw exact data from. What is important is that drawbacks of the selected method are made explicit and public so that those who interpret the data may understand where deviation from actual values may differ.

Microsoft, on the other hand, have the liberty to cherry pick the statistics they feel best support their cause. They then combine these stats with their propogandist and often childish blog posts about their ‘success’.

http://www.favbrowser.com FavBrowser.com

That’s true.

> Additionally, Statcounter has a far greater sample of sites to draw data from. This is significant in increasing statistical relevancy.

From what I read, SC just inflates the number by counting hits instead of unique visors, therefore, reducing the accuracy.

http://themousepotatowebsite.co.za/ Larry Botha

yeah, capturing data that way may be a better indicator of user behaviour rather than browser market share.

I’d like to know when Google will release data from Analytics – all this data is available to them, whether it’s unique page views, returning visitors, or a combined total.

Dante

StatCounter use own hits and make statistics. It does´t matter if China have less hits then Poland and Turkey have more hits than Germany. They don°t use weight to correction this difference.
NetApplication had same problem to 2009. Then they change methodology and make correction with weight. After this change Opera rise from 0,7% to 2% and Safari from 8.4% to 4% because most of his hits was from USA.

http://profiles.google.com/heiheidezhu goo le

My friends like use firefox, chrome, opera
and avant browser .no one use ie!

I just want to know, why do you like use ie?

http://listen.to/boray Boray

IE with Speckie plugin has the best support for multilingual spell checking. You don’t even have to switch between languages. That saves me from a lot of switching between Swedish and English every day. And IE9 is fast and trouble free. Nice bookmark handling and the colored tabs are nice as well. IE9 is simply the least annoying browser at the moment for me. I have﻿ used it for the last 46 days now. Before that, I didn’t used it for about 11-12 years!

Yoyo

Is it me or Opera 9.64 is faster than IE on average website ?

Why does Microsoft can’t make epic browser, don’t they have like very talenetd group of people and lot of money to spend ?

Max Renn

I’ve got four browsers. In order of page loading speed and function they go: Opera, Firefox, Chrome, IE.

Paulie

IE9 is the best browser for me with simple UI, Pin sites, integration with W7 and so on… Also I like to see all opened tabs in awesome bar…
But I think the key for increasing market share is flawless advertisement.
I think when the W8 take off market share increase significantly.
And I am with Microsoft all the way

Paulie

Awesome taskbar*

Mehran

I work with many people, including many who doesn’t really know they are using internet with a browser, but none of them use IE!
This statistics is lie, it’s unbelievable

Sarjoor

I also work with many people, including many who don’t really know they are using internet with a browser, and 90% of them use IE!
These statistics is entirely believable.

Dsadas

You can be the prophet that shows the way of light to those who haven’t enjoyed the modern web yet! ;)

And FYI, I always carry the latest version of FF on my Flash Drive for people who lack a true browser.

Mehran

My bad (about name)

http://listen.to/boray Boray

IE with Speckie plugin has the best support for multilingual spell checking. You don’t even have to switch between languages. That saves me from a lot of switching between Swedish and English every day. And IE9 is fast and trouble free. Nice bookmark handling and the colored tabs are nice as well. IE9 is simply the least annoying browser at the moment for me. I have﻿ used it for the last 46 days now. Before that, I didn’t used it for about 11-12 years!